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Sucking in an unsteady breath, Brooke retracted her foot, tucking it safely beneath her. “So that’s really all this vacation’s about?” she asked, trying to get the conversation back on track. “Overwork?”
One of Dylan’s stupidly perfect eyebrows arched. “Yeah. Why?”
“On the phone you sounded…I don’t know. Unhappy? I thought it might be something more than that.”
“Naw. I didn’t mean to make you worry or anything.”
She smiled at the sound of his Louisiana accent beginning to peek through, as if he was shedding the influence of living in New York as he relaxed.
“I always worry about you,” Brooke replied, hearing her own accent come out to match his. It was like they were both reverting to their younger selves, peeling back the layers they’d built up since leaving home.
Dylan’s brow furrowed. “Why?”
“I don’t know. You’re up there in New York by yourself. I wish you were closer.”
“I wish that too.”
His eyes stayed locked on hers for a long moment, and she struggled not to squirm under the weight of all that male beauty. She wondered if she’d ever get back to the point where she could feel him looking at her without going light-headed and breathless.
She had to. Being attracted to Dylan’s body was regrettably unavoidable. Being attracted tohimwas absolutely off-limits.
“So what are we gonna do this week?” he asked, breaking the spell. “I’m completely at your mercy.”
Brooke refused to let her mind conjure any dirty images of what she might like to do with him at her mercy. “Unfortunately, I kind of have to work most of the week.”
“That’s okay. I’m more than capable of entertaining myself.”
“I wish I could take more time off while you’re here, but I’m TAing two classes this semester, plus I’ve got office hours, and on top of that there’s this award I’m submitting a paper for, and the application deadline is Wednesday.”
He grinned. “That’s my Brooke. Still an overachiever.”
Her heart gave a small trill at the wordsmy Brooke, and she warned her heart to simmer the fuck down. “I’m probably wasting my time with the award. There’s no way I’m going to get it.”
“Stop second-guessing yourself and go for the thing. You have to give people a chance to tell you yes.”
It felt like old times, having Dylan here in person boosting her morale. It was so much better than talking on the phone. She felt fifteen again—in a good way, not the pimples and hormones and existential teen angst way.
“I’ve got a car,” he pointed out. “I can entertain myself while you’re being smart and awesome.”
“Tell you what,” Brooke offered. “I don’t have class or office hours on Friday. Maybe I can take the whole day off and we’ll do something fun together.”
“Sounds great. But only if it works out. Don’t jeopardize your shot at this award for me. We’ll still get to hang out in the evenings.” His expression changed as something occurred to him. “I probably should have asked this before I invited myself to stay at your place, but are you seeing anyone? I’m not stepping on any toes here, am I?”
She snorted. “No. God no.”
“Why do you say it like that?”
“Dating and me haven’t really been working out.” She picked at a hangnail on her thumb. “I think I’ve gone off the whole concept.”
His voice softened with pity. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
Brooke shrugged. It was something she’d made her peace with, but she didn’t expect anyone else to understand. The whole rest of the world seemed obsessed with finding their one true love.
“What about you?” she asked, looking up. “Anyone special in your life?”
“Hardly.”
“What’s up with that? You’re a total catch.”
